Objective 2 Achievements - January 2006

Achievements of the North Norfolk Coast Core & Central NorfolkTransitional Objective 2 Programmes at 21st January 2006

North Norfolk Coast Core Programme

As we enter its last year the North Norfolk Objective 2 programme is progressing well with activity in all Priorities and Measures in the North Norfolk Coast Core area. Twenty-five projects have been funded and there are 4 more projects in development. There are now 12 projects that are completed and 13 are still active. The total value of all projects in the Core area is currently £20.7m with commitment of £7.1m of European funding (this figure includes estimated commitment for the North Norfolk Coast Core area of Regional and Countywide projects but excludes the regional venture capital and access to finance projects). So with 11 months of the programme still to go we have commitment of 132% of the target spend by the end of 2006 for the whole of the North Norfolk Coast Core Area. Currently the claims total for spend across all projects is £5.1m which is 72% of committed funds and 95% of our target spend for the whole North Norfolk Coast Core Area programme.

As the programme continues into it last eleven months, approved projects continue to roll forward and spend their grant commitment, those that have been under development for some time reach the application stage and bid for ERDF and ESF Objective 2 co-financing grants. The following snapshot is taken on the 21st January 06. In 2005 GOEast instituted a project categorization process under which only category A projects can proceed to submit applications in the normal fashion. All other pipeline projects are on a reserve list, in case additional funds become available due to under spends in funded projects or any category A pipeline projects falling by the wayside and are not able to submit applications. There are now more pipeline projects under development than funding left uncommitted in the programme.

As a region we are required to spend 14% of the total budget for each year by the second year e.g. the 2000 allocation must be spent by end the end of 2002. We have achieved the ERDF 2003/04/05 N+2 spend targets and are well on the way to achieving the N+2 spend target for ERDF in 2006 already.

Regionally O2 ESF has achieved its 2005 N+2 spend target and has already achieved it for 2006.

To date we have 11 projects completed and they are underlined:

1) The Local North Norfolk Area Facilitator post 2000 - 2003: The local area facilitator is the point of contact for inquiries about the Objective 2 programme, is the secretariat for the LAG, supports project development & has a project monitoring role for GOEast.

2) Wells YHA Conversion Project: This project consisted of the conversion of a redundant church hall to provide modern Youth Hostel facilities with accommodation for 33 people, communal kitchen, dining area, lounge, meeting room and a disabled bedroom. The facility caters for people with disabilities and their carers and has been welcomed by the owners of B&B's in Wells who do not cater for single night stays. It sits between their Hostels in Hunstanton and Sheringham & is about 20 miles from each The Chief Executive of the YHA visited us to thank us for our efforts in helping the YHA make it a reality. They have wanted a Youth Hostel in Wells for many years. The YHA are very pleased with it and it has been in great demand by visitors since it opened in May 2002.
Total Project Value £400,280; ERDF £107,000.

The following 8 projects comprise the Cromer Regeneration Programme. The Buchanan Report forms the basis for all regeneration activity in the Key Location of Cromer and a strong Community Partnership has been created to oversee and take ownership of the regeneration process.

3) Cromer Workspace Project: EEDA have developed the last undeveloped site on the Middlebrook Way industrial estate in Cromer and have built two 3,000 ft2 industrial units to enable growing businesses to stay in Cromer rather than moving out of the Town due to a limited supply of larger premises. EEDA did this to rectify a clear market failure in Cromer. This will enable the economy to strengthen and diversify and was identified as a need in the Buchanan Report. Total Project Value £954,950; ERDF £286,485.

4) Cromer Town Centre Revitalisation project is well advanced now with street works mainly completed and the THI building grant scheme having all grants allocated; more than £145,000 of building renovation work is underway and more in the pipeline. The ERDF Claim total is £614,037; 83% of commitment. The new wider pavements have met with general acclaim giving the town centre a much more attractive look, with tables and chairs appearing on the pavements outside cafes, and new businesses already opening. The trees are planted in Church St. and as they grow it will have an even nicer ambiance for visitors and residents alike. Total Project Value £2,515,417; ERDF £737,000.

5) Cromer Seafront Enhancement scheme, our largest project to date, has completed the Pier and Pier Theatre renovation phase to general plaudits and has now almost finished the RNLI Rockethouse phase. The promenade enhancement phase has already been completed. Total Project Value £6,049,000; ERDF £2,177,000

6) Cromer Learning for Life - M 3.3 ESF - This project is aimed to help hard to reach groups to remove barriers to work through training, advice & guidance and has been very successful. Originally 334 beneficiaries were anticipated and the project had achieved 425 in the first 15 months. It had achieved all of its output targets by April of 2003 and is continuing its very successful progress ending in September 2003 when it was replaced with Cromer Learning for Life 2. Total Project Value £203,959; ESF £91,781

7) Cromer Learning for Life 2 - This project has emerged out of the very successful Cromer Learning for Life project and sought to build on its success and the clear demand for this type of project in Cromer. 300 beneficiaries were targeted for this project. Total Project Value £321,373; ESF £144,612

8) Cromer Virtual Learning Community - Measure 3.3 ESF - 40 computers, software, secure storage, aids for people with disabilities, etc. were bought, the computer support officer appointed. This project supported both of the Learning for Life projects 1 & 2 by offering the loan of a laptop computer to persons either studying on one of the courses or who were involved in the Cromer Regeneration Partnership as a community volunteer. It particularly enabled single parents or others with care commitments to study at home and still fulfill their care obligations for example. The computer support officer was employed to solve computing problems for borrowers and maintain the computers in good working order. Total Project Value £220,055; ESF £99,024

9) Cromer Community Partnership Programme - M3.1 - This project significantly caught up on its spend profile after falling behind partly due to the personal problems of the first p/t project officer which meant he was not able to work effectively. To date £69,689 ERDF claims have been made which is 100.5% of commitment. This is a very important project as it underpins all regeneration activity in Cromer and a Community Development Trust has been created from it and the next project Cromer CER Package has been developed out of it. Total Project Value £147,500; ERDF £69,325.

10) Cromer Community Economic Regeneration Package - M3.2 - This project began in December 2004 after a development process of 3.5 years, and consists of a package of projects the main one and centre piece being a Learning and Resource Centre for Cromer. All projects have emerged from the Regeneration Partnership Focus groups. Total Project Value £1,222,652; ERDF £550,152.

11) Titchwell RSPB - M2.1 - The visitor centre, shop extension & related pathways are completed and look very good and the heat pump has been installed. The RSPB are very pleased with it and it was formally opened by Vincent Watts, Chairman of EEDA on Friday 12th September 03. Total Project Value £209,621; ERDF £64,983.

12) North Norfolk Railway - M2.1 - This project will increase the capacity of the railway to run larger trains to cater for increasing demand, upgrade and extend their engineering works to manage the increased maintenance demands, and continue their renovation of historic rolling stock, employ three new apprentices and strengthen the railways operations. They have bought 2 coaches, are developing their Station at Holt and doing major building work at their Weybourne engineering works. Total Project Value £865,000; ERDF £366,400.

13) Sheringham Park - M2.2 - Work on their new visitor centre is completed with £482,244 of spend to date which is 99% of ERDF commitment. It was opened in April 05. Total Project Value £1,154,950; ERDF £486,485.

14) Tourism Capital Grant Scheme - M2.2 - Grants approved: £72,801
Total investment in North Norfolk Objective 2 core area is £315,403
No. of businesses receiving grant aid: 6
No. of new businesses: 2
No. of new jobs: 15
No. of jobs sustained: 30.5

Almost half of the total budget available for grants (£160,000) in the North Norfolk Core Area has been committed in the 36 month period that the grant has been running. All target outputs have been exceeded. The grants are for small-scale capital improvements in tourism businesses and cover up to 40% of eligible capital costs. Grants are between £6,000 & up to £25,000. It is run by the EETB & covers most O2 areas in the region. Total Project Value in North Norfolk £400,000; ERDF £80,000.

15) Norfolk Business Support Package - M1.1/1.2 - This project had seven sub-projects within it and covered all Norfolk Core O2 areas. There were delays initially over the eligibility of SME sectors for support under the Objective 2 programme, and the way the business support was written allocating the cash match funding. NWES were contracted to deliver business support for three of the sub-projects by Norfolk Businesslink. For North Norfolk they had a full time business coach who encouraged entrepreneurship from school age upwards. They developed interactive support materials for entrepreneurs especially useful in rural areas, and a placement scheme for A-level students & unemployed/under-employed execs. 50+. The Environmental Project actively engaged with SME's to help them reduce costs through an improved environmental performance and by creating 'waste' exchange networks and has proved very successful. Estimated Total Project Value for North Norfolk Core area £653,583; ERDF £222,428.

16) Invest in Norfolk Skills - M2.3 ESF
After some difficulties with state aids issues which are now resolved this project has been rolled out over the last year. Estimated Total Project Value for North Norfolk Core area £101,704; ESF £50,910.

17) The Local North Norfolk Area Facilitator post July 2003 to December 2006 - M4.1 ERDF
This is a continuation of the same local area Facilitator post that has been operating successfully for three years to end of June 2003. The project monitoring and support for project delivery is an increasing part of the role in addition to all the activities to date. Total Project Value £106,384; ERDF £45,819.

18) Wells Harbour Phase 1 - M2.2 ERDF
This project developed the assets of Wells Harbour to catalyze the growth of jobs and incomes, help sustain a socially diversified community and improve access to the distinctive maritime heritage of the North Norfolk coast. It will promote the growth of harbour use by creating/improving infrastructure for resident and visiting harbour users alike. It includes a new office and information services; new shower, toilet and laundry facilities; pontoons for visiting craft and for handicapped access to boats; a sewage pump-out facility and equipment for monitoring the quality of harbour waters. It has also preserved the Old Lifeboat House (a nationally significant Grade II building) thereby enhancing the town's Conservation Area and enhancing and protecting the area's fragile natural environment (a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, a Special Area of Conservation, a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a National Nature Reserve). Finally it will provide a meeting place for use by the Commissioners and community organisations and for education and training in maritime recreation to adults and children.
Total Project Value £441,100; ERDF £133,067.

19) Sheringham Community Partnership Programme - M3.1 ERDF
This project is about raising the quality and competitiveness of Sheringham town, its businesses and its people by tackling the town's root problems, using the power of partnership between all sectors and by identifying resources from within to drive change. It will do this through creating and developing the Sheringham Community Partnership and responds to the "East of England 2010: prosperity and opportunity for all" by building a new community commitment that involves working from grassroots level to deliver economic prosperity and jobs, safer communities, better access to learning and upskilling, but most importantly by fostering a new sense of community among local inhabitants. The Key objective of this Sheringham Community capacity building project, is to create a strong independent community sector, that is able to take responsibility for the future health and sustainability of the town, its people, and its surrounding area. This multi-strand project has been designed to galvanise people and help build community capacity by using the skills and expertise of those inside and outside the existing partnership. To do this a Project officer has been appointed plus an admin. Support officer. An additional associated £50,000 community chest is available to fund small projects from community groups. Total Project Value £174,000; ERDF £72,000.

20) GEESE (Glaven Economic and Environmental Sustainability Enterprise) - M2.2 ERDF
The project will deliver an integrated package of environmental and economic improvements on a nine-kilometre stretch of the north Norfolk coast and will incorporate major elements of economic and sustainable development into a planned flood alleviation scheme. Norfolk Wildlife Trust, the Environment Agency and the National Trust have developed this partnership project to enhance the recreation potential of the coastline; introduce the sustainable development message to visitors using the project area and bring economic benefit to the area, particularly in the tourist sector. The project will include flood alleviation and coastline management works at Cley Marshes, Salthouse Marshes and Blakeney Freshes, on the north Norfolk coast. Also the building of a new visitor and education centre at Cley Marshes and the delivery of an integrated programme of awareness, education and information within the project area focused on visitor reception points at Cley Marshes, Blakeney Point and Morston Quay. Total project value £2,472,000; ERDF £569,000

21) Cromer Museum Access Project (part of the Norfolk Museums & Heritage Project) - M2.2 ERDF
This project involves improvements to access and the internal layout of the museum to improve conditions for visitors and staff alike. It also involves creating a 0.6 FTE post for an Education and Audience Development Officer and another part time post for a front of house person. A new entrance from the Henry Blogg Memorial Garden will be created to improve access. Total Project Value £516,000; ERDF £76,000.

22) Sheringham Fishermen's Heritage Centre (part of the Norfolk Museums & Heritage Project) - M2.2 ERDF
This project has been completed and involved the restoration of the fishermen's sheds, built around 1850, located on the seafront slipway adjacent to the Henry Ramey Upcher Fishermen's Lifeboat (1894 1935) which is opened to the public, by the Sheringham Preservation Society, daily throughout the summer. The buildings which are empty but basically sound, were in urgent need of repair and refurbishment. Their restoration will provide museum space to exhibit Sheringham's Private Lifeboat history, employment space for local craft workers, display space for maritime crafts, storage space for working local fishermen, and, being located at the heart of the Conservation Area, with easy access from the town centre and promenade, will provide an important tourist attraction. The project is consistent with both the NNDC "Service Plans for Museums" and the "Norfolk and Waveny Maritime Partnership". The museum is intended to complete the history of Sheringham's three Private Lifeboats. The adjacent boatshed houses the Henry Ramey Upcher (HRU), the town's third, and fast, private lifeboat. The new section will display a painting of the "Upcher", the first boat, a large scale model of the "Augusta", the second boat, and a record of the crew and the family who commissioned them. There will also be demonstrations of crafts associated with the local fishing industry, e.g., net making, pot making, Gansey knitting, etc. At least three new jobs will be created; a cleaner and two craft workers. The derelict and unsightly piece of ground in front of the buildings will be transformed into a garden , providing an attractive entrance to the complex, which will then be managed by the Society.
Total Project Value £113,975; ERDF £24,975.

23) North Norfolk Railway Museum Project (part of the Norfolk Museums & Heritage Project) - M2.2 ERDF
This project aims to bring the history of the Midland & Great Northern Joint Railway to the attention of the public and educational institutions. The M&GN was instrumental in develoing the coastal area of North Norfolk in the late 19th Century. Prioir to its opening Sheringham was a small hamlet of fishing cottages. This will be achieved by a project, in four parts, each of which mesh into existing developments on the North Norfolk Railway.
1) The establishment of a new museum to place the railway in its historical context, involving the design and fitting out of the new museum in an area of the reconstructed Goods shed. This will complement the ongoing plan to replicate a typical M&GN country town station 'complex' at Holt.
2) The refurbishment of under-developed exhibits to establish a 'satellite' railway museum at Sheringham.
3) The improvement and standardisation of interpretive signage throughout the length of the railway from Sheringham to Holt to emphasise an innovative 'Journey through Time' theme NNR is developing.
4) The establishment of an 'outreach' service in support of the museum's activities
Total Project Value £178,000; ERDF £69,420.

24) Sheringham CER Package - M3.2 ERDF
In January 2005, the Sheringham Regeneration Initiative drew up a challenging community led 'shopping list'. The list includes traffic management, pedestrian areas, foreshore improvements, shared community facilities, better business facilities, skills development, improvements to the Bittern Line, and a range of environmental enhancements. The Initiatives we have undertaken so far have shown that the partnership approach does work in addressing the need for improvement. However, it also recognises that a constant flow of fresh people and ideas is required to support it as well as continued efforts to maintain trust among the various partners. .

It has been essential to establish a clear vision for Sheringham's future direction with a long-term strategic view rather than the piecemeal execution of projects. It has been essential, therefore, that the strategy is underpinned by considerable funding and other resources in order to be truly effective. The vision is 'To establish and implement a thriving Community Regeneration Action Plan targeting key strategic priorities to drive the local economic, social and community development' is then supported with aims which have been developed into the plans for each identified project'. The projects have been split into 7 distinct projects but they clearly interlink with one another. The over arching theme for the town centre, seafront and lighting projects is to create a natural inclusion of the foreshore into the town centre and vice versa. The communications plan will create a 'brand Sheringham' which can then be mirrored through the other 6 projects. The Nature walks project will inform and make available enjoyable circular walks in and around Sheringham and finally the empty Oddfellows Hall will be converted into a Community Building for the benefit of the community.
Total Project Value £1,068,500; ERDF £500,000.

25) Sheringham Learning 4 Everyone - M3.3 ESF
The objectives of the project are to enhance the employment prospects of individuals who live or work in the Sheringham CER Ward by developing self-confidence and a sense of ownership amongst local people to regenerate their community, through an integrated package developing skills and creating jobs, offering progression opportunities and community capacity building. Self employment opportunities will be identified and promoted and local employers will be supported through work force development.

This will be achieved through the creation of a town centre presence that is accessible and visible that will provide impartial information, advice & guidance (IAG) to individuals about personal development, skills, vocational and leisure learning opportunities, including:
o Identifying need
o Identifying what is available, when and where and at what cost
o Helping with access, e.g. knowing what is available, what is best, travel, childcare support, financial support
o End of course evaluation & identification of next steps if applicable
Develop pro-active liaison with employers, identifying skills gaps within existing and/or potential workforce; identify unmet learning needs and liaise with training providers; co-ordinate and communicate details of educational & training provision.
Total Project Value £227,460; ESF £102,175

Summary of Achievements of the Central Norfolk Transitional Programme

This is the smallest Transitional area in the East of England Objective 2 Programme comprising only three wards focusing on the market town of Fakenham. Projects are under development in two of the three available Measures in the Central Norfolk Transitional Area.

With the help of a Central Norfolk Transitional Area project development group three linked M2.2 projects have emerged, two have been funded and the third has submitted and application which is currently being appraised. They are all part of an Upper Wensum Valley Nature Based Tourism Cluster. One is the Hawk & Owl Trusts Sculthorpe Moor Nature reserve development project and two are the Pensthorpe Conservation Centre project Phase 1 and 2 which have been successful in applying for funding from the Objective 2 programme. These reserves both lie approximately a mile from Fakenham to the west & east respectively. These projects aim to create enhanced visitor attractions to attract more people into the Fakenham area thereby strengthening the local economy with increased visitor spend

Pensthorpe Conservation Centre Phase 1 - M2.2 ERDF
This Project is now completed involved creating the infrastructure to re house the Makins wildfowl collection in a purpose build visitor facility run by the Pensthorpe Conservation Trust. It will share common access and visitor infrastructure with Pensthorpe Estate, and has developed a working relationship with the Hawk and Owl Trust. All three organisations are working together on destination development and marketing, in order to optimise their individual corporate aspirations, as well as their contribution to the wider economic development of the local community. This project is intended to form part of the full mosaic of visitor experiences required to provide a sufficiently large and interesting 'cluster' of high quality nature-based products that is capable of complementing the established sector located along the North Norfolk coast between Snettisham and Cley. This sector includes several internationally known RSPB, NOA and Norfolk Wildlife Trust nature reserves. To achieve this, the Upper Wensum Valley requires a range of nature-based tourism products catering for a broad and increasingly discerning market. It will provide a new visitor experience, through the relocation, interpretation and provision of access (particularly for people with disabilities) to the currently inaccessible collection of waterbirds; and significantly improve the management of the biodiversity of the Upper Wensum Valley through removal of non-native waterbirds. They will be removed to this purpose-built facility outside of the River Wensum floodplain, which is an EU designated Special Area for Conservation (SAC). - M2.2 ERDF £68,275; total project value £276,250.

Pensthorpe Conservation Centre Phase 2 - M2.2
This project has now been completed. The Pensthorpe Conservation Centre has being built around the water bird collection that was originally established in the mid 1970s as a private, but not for profit initiative by the renowned conservationist, Mr. Bill Makins. Its focus has traditionally been the captive breeding of water birds, and Pensthorpe currently houses one of the most comprehensive collections in Europe. During the period from its establishment to the present day, the collection has maintained close cooperative links with other internationally known institutions such as the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust in the UK, the Zwin Reserve in Belgium and the Mareeba Tropical Savanna and Wetland Reserve in Australia. In order to more effectively position the collection in relation to contemporary developments in water bird conservation, the first stage of the PCC project is creating a publicly accessible new home for the collection and providing a focus for its conservation work. The PCC Phase Two project intends to build on this and deliver additional conservation-oriented high quality components in the ongoing development of the PCC.
Phase Two the PCC has allowed the conservation work of the PCT to be developed further, and additional species exhibited. Like the first phase of the PCC, Phase Two would require 'best practice' in zoological and visitor management. An income stream to support ongoing promotion, maintenance and depreciation will be provided by an enhanced entry fee to the PCC and supported by the existing Pensthorpe attraction's visitor and marketing infrastructure. M2.2 ERDF £47,075; total project value £141,650.